| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Alloys: Development and Manufacturing Supplier Forum
|
| Presentation Title |
Low-Cost Aluminum Scandium Master Alloy Technology |
| Author(s) |
Tim Grbavac, Jim Intrater, Rick Salvucci, Brian Hunt, Eugene Prahin |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Tim Grbavac |
| Abstract Scope |
FEA Materials LLC has developed a hybrid metallothermic/electrolysis process that enables production of Al-2%Sc below $33/kg assuming Scandium Oxide market price of $750/kg. The process can theoretically achieve Scandium concentrations as high as 8wt% in the alloy, with consistent concentrations of up to 4wt% observed in experiments to-date. The system is designed for continuous operation and maintains a material yield above 90%. The process uses a proprietary molten salt composition that is both robust and self-correcting, overcoming the challenges with traditional electrolysis processes. The cell platform is modular, allowing for tuned production rates and flexible infrastructure requirements, running under a controlled atmosphere to keep tight control of output streams and ensuring a safe work environment (no perfluorocarbon emissions). FEA Materials is currently producing upwards of 16kg Al-Sc with Scandium concentrations from 2.0wt% to 3.5-4.0wt % per shift with the capability to expand to 50kg/shift within its facility in Westborough, Massachusetts. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Electrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing |